The Goulding Album James Goulding & His Sidecars

Claude Goulding and Dot and Earl Robinson. By Ron Rae

A book review by John Cerilli

(c) 1995-1996 Motorcycle Shopper. All Rights Reserved.

The Goulding Album is more like a family album. It is 46 pages of some of the greatest vintage motorcycle photos I have seen in a long time. The famous sidecars of James Goulding began about 1910, and the first ones were designed as a vehicle to hauled hand tools for his building business in Melbourne, Australia. Jimmy, as he liked to be known, was an excellent mechanic, with a flare for engineering. By 1917 hundreds of sidecars per month were being manufactured in Richmond, a suburb of Melbourne. Most of these were attached to Harley-Davidsons, as Harley was exporting bikes around the world at the time.

By 1921, Goulding was the dominant name in sidecars in both Australia and New Zealand, and during this time, motorcycles far outnumbered cars in those countries. Around that same time, eight sidecars were sold for every ten motorcycles in Australia, England, and America.

In 1920, Jimmy and his wife, Olive came to America by boat with an Harley- Davidson Goulding outfitted sidecar, and little else. They arrived in San Francisco and met with Dudley Perkins, who became a lifelong friend, and set out on a 12,000 mile cross country journey to meet with motorcycle business people and promote his sidecar. The first 15 pages or so are dedicated to that adventure. When you recall that in those days, the roads were virtually all dirt, this was quite a feat indeed, and is testament to the superior design and quality of the Goulding.

Around 1925, after returning to Australia, the family relocated to Michigan, where they set-up their business on Water Street in downtown Saginaw. The remainder of the book goes into details regarding their relationship with Harley-Davidson, the introduction of the "Rocket" sidecar, the most famous model produced by Goulding, the side-hacks that raced in the Jack Pine 500-Mile Endurance Run (The World Series of "Cow Trailing"), some history about the famous "Motor Maids" Motorcycle Club, and other competition highlights.

The last Goulding sidecar was manufactured in 1956, but even today, there has been a great rebirth of these fine sidecars at vintage motorcycle rallies across the United States. This exceptionally well done book is tribute to one of motorcycling greatest pioneers: Jimmy Goulding, his family, and his friends. Ron Rae, a graphics designer by trade, is to be complimented for the layout, fit and finish of this historical account. Again, the photography in this book is priceless, as it stands for another time, and a forgotten chapter in the colorful history of motorcycles.

I highly recommend this book, as entertainment, a historical review, and it will look great on any coffee table.

The Goulding Album - James Goulding & His Sidecars, 
Claude Goulding, and Dot and Earl Robinson 
Author:  Ron Rae

About the author...
John Cerilli has been an active motorcycle rider, toy motorcycle collector, and enthusiast for the last 25 years. He is a current AMA and Life H.O.G. (Harley-Owners- Group) member. He has written articles for Motorcycle Collector, The BMWMOA News, and several other motorcycle magazines. His e-mail address is: johnc2@cox.net.